2005 Mercedes S-Class 3.2L Diesel · PL05 TZR

The vehicle currently holds a valid MOT, but the mechanical history reveals a trend of reactive rather than proactive maintenance. While it passed the latest test in May 2026 at 162,637 miles, this followed a significant failure in March 2025. The 2025 failure was particularly concerning, flagging multiple critical issues across the braking, suspension, and tyre systems. Although the immediate safety failures were addressed, the frequency of major faults suggests a vehicle that is only maintained upon inspection intervals. The mileage pattern is consistent with a 21-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 7,700 miles per year over the recorded 162,637 miles. There is a notable gap in records between March 2022 and March 2025, during which the car covered 6,390 miles. The more recent interval of 1,124 miles between March 2025 and 2026 indicates very low annual usage. Low mileage often leads to the degradation of rubber components and fluid stagnation, which aligns with the issues found in the report. A buyer must conduct a thorough physical inspection of the braking and suspension assemblies. The 2025 test recorded binding rear brakes and an imbalanced front axle, while the nearside front brake disc remained scored even into the 2026 test. This suggests the braking system is prone to corrosion or caliper sticking. Furthermore, the failure of the offside front shock absorber and upper suspension arm bush in 2025 indicates that the complex multi-link suspension is reaching the end of its service life. The prop shaft flexible coupling, noted in 2022, should be checked for further rubber cracking to prevent catastrophic drivetrain failure.